Two philanthropic-minded couples, the associate chair of biochemistry and molecular pharmacology, a longtime 4-H/Extension events coordinator and the WVU Staff Council president will be honored asMost Loyalsduring the 59th annual Mountaineer Week, a celebration of Appalachian heritage, Nov. 3-12 on West Virginia Universitys campus.
The 2006 honorees are: John and Joyce Allen, Most Loyal West Virginians; George and Mary Ann Farmer, Most Loyal Alumni Mountaineers; Dr. Robert Stitzel and Jeffrey Orndorff, Most Loyal Faculty Mountaineers; and Terry Nebel, Most Loyal Staff Mountaineer. The group will be honored during halftime ceremonies of the WVU -Cincinnati football game Nov. 11.
The Most Loyal West Virginian and Alumni Mountaineer awards have been presented since 1974, while the Most Loyal Faculty and Staff Mountaineer award was created in 1994 and split into two separate awards in 2001.
Most Loyal West Virginian exemplifies faithfulness to the ideals and goals of the state of West Virginia through business, professional and civic achievement as well as support of WVU .
John C. and Joyce B. Allen of Coalton have been loyal patrons of WVU and are charter members of the WVU Foundations most prestigious donor groupthe Woodburn Circle Society.
The Allens have been especially generous in their support of the College of Creative Arts and the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center. They have created funds to avail students of Italian and French study abroad opportunities, and in support of cancer research and experimental therapies.
Mr. Allen has enjoyed a very successful career. He is president of the J.F. Allen Company, one of the top 100 federal highway contractors in the United States. The companyas well as the familyis known in the industry to be extremely ethical and committed to the highest standards of safety and environmentally conscious construction.
He has served on several high-profile committees, including the WV Chamber of Commerce (member), the Nature Conservancy (board member), the Virginia Road BuildersAssociation (past director) and the WV ContractorsAssociation (past director). Allen has also served the WVU Foundation as a member of the board of directors and in national campaign committee for the Building Greatness Campaign: West Virginia University. Both John and Joyce Allen have served as members of the WVU College of Creative Arts Visiting Committee.
Most Loyal Alumni Mountaineer exemplifies faithfulness to the ideals and goals of the University and exhibits support for WVU activities and operations through leadership and service.
George R. Farmer Jr. and his wife, Mary Ann have long been personal advocates of the University. Morgantown residents and WVU alumni, George and Mary Ann (Lawson) Farmer have fostered a long relationship of support for West Virginia University. Since their days on campus in the 1950s, they have become generous and dedicated friends of the institution.
Mr. Farmer graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1953 and the College of Law in 1956. After graduation, he taught at the College of Law and entered into private practice with his father, George Sr., in a Morgantown law firm known as Farmer&Farmer. It is through that law practicewhich later merged with Jackson Kelly PLLC that he became the long-time attorney, advisor and friend to one of Morgantowns most recognized and generous citizens: Hazel Ruby McQuain. He has continued her philanthropic ways, serving as chairman of the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust Board of Trustees. Most recently, the Trust provided funds for WVU s new wrestling facility, making it one of the finest of its kind in the United States, and the WVU Alumni Association building campaign.
Mrs. Farmer is a 1955 graduate of the College of Human Resources and Education.
Most Loyal Faculty and Staff Mountaineers exemplify faithfulness to the ideals and goals of West Virginia University and exhibit support for WVU activities and operations through leadership and service.
Robert E. Stitzel has provided ongoing, consistent and dedicated service to the WVU School of Medicine since 1965. For many years he has served as the associate chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and then as the associate chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology. On at least two occasions, he has also served as interim chair of these departments. He has been a member of the University Senate and is the director of the Graduate Studies Program. Dr. Stitzel has been a mentor to students and faculty for generationsserving as a reason to return to the University for advanced degrees or as a staff person.
It was his close relationship with industry leaders that directly lead to the largest institutional gift ever made to the School of Medicine from Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. This $11.79 million gift will support medical research in the fields of obesity, cardiovascular/pulmonary issues, and womens and childrens health issues.
Jeffrey D. Orndorff has served Extension/4-H for 33 years. He currently serves as an assistant professor/Extension specialist and 4-H events coordinator at the Youth Development Center. He began his career as an Extension Agent in McDowell County. He moved on to a similar position in Grant County before moving to Morgantown in 1987. At that time, he began to build the State 4-H camping program to a level that has retained high enrollment numbers despite sliding population.
Through his friendship and mentoring, countless numbers of 4-Hers have credited Orndorff with helping them find their way to WVU and careers in medicine, law and education.
Orndorff has served on the WVU Faculty Senate and many other committees during his time at WVU . But, he counts his work with the states youth as his lifes work.
Terry A. Nebel is a 17-year staff member of the university, beginning his career in Accounting Financial Systems as a certified professional property specialist. Currently, he Nebel serves as the manager of Outbound Support in the Customer Service department.
Mr. Nebels dedication to the University is most evident in the volunteer roles he has taken on. He has served as president of the WVU Staff Council since 1999, and prior to that, as vice president of the organization. He has been the staff chair of the WVU Foundations Faculty&Staff Annual Fund efforts for several years, as well as serving as a member of the Building Greatness Campaign: West Virginia University national campaign committee, and as co-chair of the Building Greatness from Within faculty and staff campaign committee.
In September 2006, Nebel was named as a member of the 17-person search committee charged with selecting WVU s next president.
Nebel graduated from WVU in 1998.